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Wondering how everyone's children did with two years in a row of the same time period. I like that it covers different things but wonder if it gets to be a little too much for the kids???

It hasn't felt like too much to either my dd or me. In Beyond we go very much in depth of the Pilgrims (I was surprised at how much I learned about them as well!) and this year in Bigger we are covering more individual people. We are loving it! It helps that early American history is a love of mine and my dd (and my ds for that matter) seem to have inheritated that from me. It is a very different feel between the two guides though. I think you and your dc will love it.

I agree with Kelly. I was afraid that it would be too much as well, but we have loved revisiting the same time period this year. It has felt very different and we have learned so much more.

I don't even think my dd has really noticed? She'll occasionally say something like "OH we read about that in the other book last year!" but there's really not too many chances for that. It's about the same time period, but so much more in depth about what it covers.

It really hasn't been an issue for us, either.

MomtoJGJE wrote:I don't even think my dd has really noticed? She'll occasionally say something like "OH we read about that in the other book last year!" but there's really not too many chances for that.

Same here.

We're really enjoying Bigger now. We're on unit 10 and their 3" notebook is so impressive.

If you could only do one or the other, which would you do - Beyond or Bigger. I did not start HOD until Preparing with my 2 oldest and I am trying to decide when to start my youngest. I know I want to start him no later than Bigger by 2nd grade but I do have things I can do for K & 1st so I was wondering what you all thought ????

Thanks

I would absolutely start with Beyond if I were choosing between those two It really sets them up for success in Bigger. Not that you can't have success and fun with Bigger without Beyond, but it makes that transition easier and makes them more successful right from the start.

basesloaded wrote:If you could only do one or the other, which would you do - Beyond or Bigger. I did not start HOD until Preparing with my 2 oldest and I am trying to decide when to start my youngest. I know I want to start him no later than Bigger by 2nd grade but I do have things I can do for K & 1st so I was wondering what you all thought ????

Thanks

I would do both, but if you have to choose one, then choose the one for which he is developmentally ready. My favorite of the two is Bigger for several reasons. The biggest might be that last year when we were doing Beyond, I had some health issues that kept me from really enjoying the program as much as I could have. I really do love the character study in Bigger too. I wouldn't want to miss that. I also think the way the science is done in Bigger very much prepares dc for the independent science in Preparing as does the history notebooking and vocabulary. I think it is a very important skill building year. Though Bigger doesn't go into the pilgrims as much, it does do a nice overview of the early settlers and goes more in depth into the Revolution and founding of the country. We're doing Bigger right now though so I am probably a bit biased.

If you had it to do over again would you do LHFHG with first grade options or Beyond? I'm torn. My DD places in Beyond, but then I will be doing back to back guides, as DS places in Bigger. I don't think combining would be a good idea for us. Their comprehension, vocabulary, attention span and reading level are not close enough. Plus, DD would allow DS to answer all the question and he would welcome that too. . I think DD will benefit so much more with her own program. But, I'm worried that I won't really be doing much of LHFHG as written, so what's the point? We will be doing spelling, finishing up Saxon 1, emerging readers, Apologia science "Anatomy" with junior notebook. I think Preparing would be too much writing for DS and he hasn't learned cursive yet. Also, I wouldn't want him to miss the American history that Bigger provides. I guess what I'm asking is if you felt that LHFHG was "enough" for first grade. Thanks!

underHiswings wrote:If you had it to do over again would you do LHFHG with first grade options or Beyond? I'm torn. My DD places in Beyond, but then I will be doing back to back guides, as DS places in Bigger. I don't think combining would be a good idea for us. Their comprehension, vocabulary, attention span and reading level are not close enough. Plus, DD would allow DS to answer all the question and he would welcome that too. . I think DD will benefit so much more with her own program. But, I'm worried that I won't really be doing much of LHFHG as written, so what's the point? We will be doing spelling, finishing up Saxon 1, emerging readers, Apologia science "Anatomy" with junior notebook. I think Preparing would be too much writing for DS and he hasn't learned cursive yet. Also, I wouldn't want him to miss the American history that Bigger provides. I guess what I'm asking is if you felt that LHFHG was "enough" for first grade. Thanks!

LHFHG with first grade options makes a great 1st grade program! I know there are other ladies on the board who are doing or have done that. That would also keep things fresh for you, by allowing you to use Bigger with your older child, thereby not having back-to-back guides HOD is flexible, so if you are truly sold on Saxon Math and want to keep your Science, you can Just order LHFHG's 1st Grade Economy Package and add the Devotions book, the Bible memory CD, 101 Favorite Stories From the Bible, your choice of Grade 1 handwriting program, and a reading program and you will be all set for a great year! Oh, and if your upcoming first grader already knows how to read, instead of getting Reading Made Easy or The Reading Lesson, order the Emerging Reader set, which is conveniently scheduled in the appendix of Bigger Hearts

Thanks!!!!!

I wanted to ditto the preveous posters that said LHFHG would be a fabulous 1st grade year! We used it for K, but the core of it would be great for either year.